يحذِّرُني المَوتَ ابنُ حبناءَ وَالفَتى

يحذِّرُني المَوتَ ابنُ حبناءَ وَالفَتى

إِلى المَوتِ يَغدو جاهِداً وَيروحُ

إِلى المَوتِ يَغدو جاهِداً وَيروحُ

Ibn Ḥabnāʾ warns me of death, yet the young man

Ibn Habna warns me of death, yet a young man

goes toward death morning and evening, striving.

goes toward death, striving, morning and evening.

وَكُلُّ امرِئٍ لا بُدَّ لِلمَوتِ صائِرٌ

وَكُلُّ امرِئٍ لا بُدَّ لِلمَوتِ صائِرٌ

وَإِن عاشَ دَهراً في البِلادِ يسيحُ

وَإِن عاشَ دَهراً في البِلادِ يسيحُ

And every man is inevitably bound for death,

And every person is inevitably bound for death,

even if he lives an age roaming through the lands.

even if he lives an age, wandering through the lands.

فَقُل لِيَزيدٍ يا بنَ حَبناءَ لا تَعِظ

فَقُل لِيَزيدٍ يا بنَ حَبناءَ لا تَعِظ

أَخاكَ وَعِظ نَفساً فَأنتَ جَنوحُ

أَخاكَ وَعِظ نَفساً فَأنتَ جَنوحُ

So tell Yazīd: O son of Ḥabnāʾ, do not admonish

So tell Yazid: O son of Habna, do not admonish

your brother; admonish yourself, for you are wayward.

your brother; admonish yourself, for you are wayward.

تَرَكتَ التُّقى وَالدِّينُ دينُ مُحَمَّدٍ

تَرَكتَ التُّقى وَالدِّينُ دينُ مُحَمَّدٍ

لِأَهلِ التُّقى وَالمُسلِمين يَلوحُ

لِأَهلِ التُّقى وَالمُسلِمين يَلوحُ

You have forsaken piety, while the faith—the faith of Muhammad—

You have abandoned piety, while the faith—the faith of Muhammad—

shines clear to the devout and to Muslims.

shines forth for the pious and the Muslims.

وَتابَعتَ مُرَّاقَ العِراقَينِ سادِراً

وَتابَعتَ مُرَّاقَ العِراقَينِ سادِراً

وَأَنتَ غَليظُ القُصرَيَينِ صَحيحُ

وَأَنتَ غَليظُ القُصرَيَينِ صَحيحُ

And you followed the renegades of the two Iraqs, heedlessly,

And you have followed the renegades of the two Iraqs, heedlessly,

though broad across both flanks and sound in body.

though you are thick-ribbed and hale.